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Obstetric and Gynecology expert, Dr Olufunke Olamigoke has called for improved access to skilled birth attendance at birth, emergency obstetrics care, effective family planning and reproductive health services as the most cost effective strategy in tackling maternal mortality.

Olufunke who spoke at a media round table organized by Development Communications Network, said the lifetime risk of maternal death indicates that one in 30 women in Nigeria will have a death related to pregnancy or child bearing.

Imagine a woman in Lubbock, Texas, who just found out that she's pregnant. She wants an abortion, but Lubbock is one of 27 abortion deserts in the US: The nearest clinic is 308 miles away in Fort Worth, forcing her to take time off from work, pay for travel, and likely arrange childcare to get there. She’s less than 10 weeks along, so she’s a candidate for medication abortion—which could, theoretically, be completed in the privacy of her home. But Texas requires that the FDA protocol for medication abortion be followed to the letter. She’ll have to return to the clinic within one to two weeks for a follow-up visit, despite evidence that an in-person follow-up is unnecessary.

What if, instead, she could video chat with a doctor, pick up a prescription from her regular pharmacy, and manage her own abortion with on-call medical support—a telemedicine abortion?

While most people have heard of birth doulas and generally understand their support role during pregnancy, labor, and after, very few have heard of abortion doulas and know even less about what they do to support people terminating pregnancies.

Gina Martinez Valentín first heard about abortion doulas from Hip Mama magazine 20 years ago: “There was an article about a young single queer mom who was showing up and helping her friends when they were having an abortion, to offer support. For unrelated reasons the mom ended up dying, and that’s when I knew I was going to do this.”

LAMJUNG: The number of women opting for illegal abortion in Lamjung district is on the rise, authorities say.

The authorities asserted the alarming rate of increase in illegal abortion as the number of women with health complications visiting medical facilities after carrying out unsafe and illegal abortion increased in recent days.

District’s major health institution, Lamjung District Community Hospital, does not provide abortion services, however, the women visit the facility after facing health complications due to unsafe abortion.

Uganda to conduct a study on abortion rates
Findings will highlight deficiencies in safe abortion and post-abortion care services.

By Carol Natukunda
3rd August 2018

KAMPALA - Uganda is participating in cross-country studies on abortion and post-abortion care in Africa and Asia. Researchers seek to find out women’s knowledge of abortion methods and sources, the incidence of induced abortion, how women terminate pregnancies, and the extent of unsafe abortion.

In addition to direct questions on abortion, the female survey module includes questions about the respondents’ two closest friends and their experiences with abortion.

Abortion pills are safe and simple
So why won’t the government let women in England take them at home?

Ann Furedi, Chief executive, BPAS
1 August 2018

The government may claim its health service has a commitment to evidence-based treatment, but it is shamefully blind to the evidence when it comes to abortion.

Britain was among the very first countries to allow early medical abortion in hospitals and clinics when it became available more than two decades ago. It now trails behind almost every other country in allowing women to use abortion pills in a sensible, safe and evidence-based way.

by International Campaign for Women's Right to Safe Abortion
July 31, 2018

Background

Under the Penal Code of Côte d’Ivoire, Law No. 81-640, 31 July 1981, abortion is prohibited except to save the life of the pregnant woman, if it is seriously endangered. Although this implies that it is an emergency situation, the attending physician must consult two additional physicians, who must certify that her life can only be saved by a surgical/therapeutic abortion. If only one other physician resides in the local area, the attending physician need only consult with this physician. If the treating physician is the only physician locally, s/he must certify on her/his honour that the life of the woman can only be saved by an abortion. The Penal Code also prohibits promotion of abortion by means of public discussion or advertisement or by distribution or sale of substances or objects. But it no longer contains similar restrictions on contraception that were enacted by the French colonial government in 1920.

BURKINA FASO – Interview with Mariam Nonguerma/Zorome, President of the Burkinabe Association of Midwives

by International Campaign for Women's Right to Safe Abortion
July 31, 2018

The extent of illegal abortion in Burkina is terrible because of the disastrous consequences of these abortions, including haemorrhage, sepsis, uterine perforation and even death. Sometimes girls come to our health centres from disastrous situations, bleeding. But when they present themselves, they do not confess that it is due to an induced abortion. And it is only following examination that one realises it was an abortion induced clandestinely. So, we do not distinguish between the different types of terminations, whether miscarriages or induced, but work to try to save the life of the woman and the child.

Women are illegally taking abortion pills, which they have bought online, at home to avoid enduring abortions on public transport. In England, abortion pills must be administered in a clinic or hospital. For some this means the pill can take effect on their journey home.

Campaigners say women should be able to take the second pill at home, as buying pills online can be dangerous. The Department of Health said it was monitoring the evidence on home use.